Railway-switch locking and operating means



May a, 1921. 1,627,503

D. F. GRIFFEY RAILWAY SWITCH LOCKING AND OPERATING MEANS- Filed Oct. v. 1926 s SheetS-Sheet 1.

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- UNITED STATES- PATENT, OFFIC DINNEY F. GRIFFEY, OF RED JACKET, VEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOE 0F ONE=HALF TO v ROBERT N. COX, OF RED JACKET, WEST VIRGINIA.

BAILWAY SWITCH LOCKING AND OPERATING MEANS.

Application filed October 7, 1926. Serial No. 140,093.

fact that the word train wherever it appears herein, is to be considered as compre hendingynot only a plurality ot cars or coaches connected with each other, but also a single car. 7

A further object ol? the invention .is to 1 )1'0- vide manually operated means whereby the switch-locking means may be thrown out of play if desired, permitting throwing oi the switch by the usual stand or other desired means. 7 V

' \Vitli the foregoing and minor objects in subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings,

Figs. 1 and 1 jointly represent a top plan view of a portion of a main track, a siding and a switch. with the invention in operative relation therewith.

Figs. 2 and 2 jointly 'ive a side elevation of the parts shown in I igs. 1 and 1, a poly tion of Fig. 2 being broken away and in section.

the train-carried shoes and their operating means. I

Fin. 8 IS a horizontal section on line 8-8 01 Fig. 7.

The numerals 9 on the accompanying drawings designate the main track rails, 10

denotes the rails of a siding, 11 has retorenceto the usual frog and 12 refers to the conventional switch tongues, these tongues being connected by a bridle bar lg from which an operating rod 14 may lead to a switehstand (not shown),

Disposed under and suitably secured to the Figs. 3 and 3 jointly show a longitudinal portions of the main track rails 9, toward which the switch tongues 12 extend,'are four frames 15, 16, 17 and 18, all disposed in vertical transverse planes and each of substantially U-shape, as shown for instance in Fig. 5. i V and 20 extendunder portions otthe main track rails and portions of the siding, these :tranies being of obtuse-angular form when viewed from top or bottom, as will be clear from Fig. 1.

Disposed longitudinally between the main track rails area number of levers 21, 22, 23 and 24, all tulcrumed on vertical axes 25 to appropriate transverse plates 26, secured to rails. Two of these plates extend not only under the main track rails 9 but under .60 Two similar but wide-r frames 19 portions of the switch, and tulcrumed upon i one of these two plates is a lever 27 whose talc-rum axis 28 is disposed verticall said lever 27 being disposed between portions of the siding rails 10. The levers 21, 22 and 23 are pivoted to each other at 30, and'0ne of these pivots connects the lever '23 with the bridle bar 13. The end of this lever opposite the bridle bar, is pivoted at 31 to a trans verse link 82, the levers 2 1 and .27 being pivoted to the ends of this link at 34; and

respectively.

The levers 21 2 1 and 27, carry wedgecamsor shoes 39 and 10 carried by thertrain (see Figs. 7 and 8). The cams 39 and40 are carried by vertical shafts 11 and 12 respectively, and any desired means'suchasa gear .wheel 43 and racks 14, maybe provided to permit the simultaneous lowering of one cam or in either of its other twopoSitiOns. When shoe 39 is lowered, regardless of the direc-' tion n wh ch the train s traveling along the main track, or whether said train is entering .or leaving the siding-said shoe will engage 'one or another of the cams 36, 37, 38 to effect horizontal swinging of the lever Which car-' ries such cam, and as all of the levers so far described are connected for operationin unison, they will all be shifted and it will be seen that the bridle bar 13 will move the switch tongues 12 from one position to the shaped cams 36, 37 and 38respeotively, and these. cams are co-operable' w th additional other. lVhen the shoe 40 is lowered. it will engage one or another of the cams 36. :17., 38 to shift it and the levers in the opposite direction from that above described. thus moving the switch tongues in the opposite direction.

Locking bars and 51 are provided for the levers 21. 24; and 27, the bar 50 being as sociated only with the lever 21 while the bar 51 which is relatively long. co-operates with both levers 24 and 27. These two bars are movably mounted within the frames it and 20 respectively and as the details of their mounting. construction and operation are about identical. only those regardin the bar 50 (shown in Figs. 1. :2. 3. -1-. 5 and (3. will be given). This bar extends transversely between the track rails 9. under the free end of the lever 21 and is formed with openings either one of which may receive a stud 5?) which projects do vnwardly from said lever. \Vhen this lever is in one position. the stud is received in one of the openings and when said lever is in its other position. the other opening of course receives said stud. Two pins. bolts or the like 54; are secured to and project downwardly from the ends of the bar 50 said pins or the l'il-te being; received in openings in the ends of a transverse bar 56 which has rigid connection with the side members of the frame 16. Coiled compression springs surround these pins or the like between the two bars 50 and 56 and exert their power to normally raise said bar 50 to the operative position disclosed in Figs. 3 and Two depressiliile rails however, are connected with the bar 50 to depress and release this bar prior to engagement of one or another of the cams, 36. 37. 38 by the shoe 39 or ll-t). Similar rails 57 are connected with the ends of the looking bar '51. one of these rails 57 being adjacent one of the track rails 9 while the other is at one side of one of the siding rails 10, as seen most clearly in Fi 1.

By an arrangement of longitudinally disposed. vertically swing'able levers 5S and 59, and links -451. the de 'n'essible rails 56 are connected with the rails 57. so that upon depression of any of these rails. to release one of the locking bars 5()51. the levers 58 59 are so moved as to similarly depress the other rails for the purpose of releasing the other lOClClDQ bar. Thus. 'ith both looking; bars released from engagement with the levers 21. 24 and 27. the co-act-ing train-carried and track-carried cams may come into play to throw the switch in one direction or the other.

The levers 58 are suitably fulcrumed at ($3 to the side members of the frame 18. Similarly. the levers 59 are fulcrumed at 64 to the side members of the frame 19. in which connection it may be stated that these frames and all others may be of the general construction herein disclosed or of any other construction which will be suitable for the purposes intended.

The frame 17 projects laterally beyond the track and is provided with upstanding bearings 65 and with a base portion (36 extending longitudinally of and outwardly spaced from the track. Apertured lugs or ears 6? and 68 rise from this base portion (36. for a purpose to appear. A transverse rock shaft 69 rotatably mounted in the bearii'igs (if) and in other portions of the frame 17. and at one end is provided with a hand lever 70 having a lost-motion connection 71 therewith. This lever may be locked in engagement with either of the lugs GT-(J8 and when it is engaged with lug 68 as shown in most views. automatic throwing of the switch can be etfected and said switch will. upon passage of the train. be locked in the position at which it is left. Provision is made however whereby swinging of the lever 70 and locking it in engagement with the lug- 67. will sin'iultaneously depress and release both locking bars 50 and 51. so that the rod 14 and the switch stand may be used to throw the switch if desired. As will be clear from Fig. (3. tl'irowing of lever T0 to the position shown in this view. will bring the lost-n'iotion connection 71 into play. so that further downward swinging of the lever will turn the rock shaft (39. This shaft is provided with a crank arm 72 linked at 73 to a longitudinal lever T1. the latter being fulcrumcd upon a shaft 75 carried by the frame 1:"). By a suitable connection 76. lever 74 is connected with the locking bar 50. Thus. upon swinging of the lever 70 into engagement with the lug ($7 and ctmsequent rotation of the shaft (39. the connections 72. T3. 74-. 76 come into play to depress and release the locking bar 50 and due to the arrangement of levers previously described. the lockingbar 51 is sin'iultaneouslv depressed and released. Thus. the levers 21. 24 and 27 are free of the locking bars and the switch may be thrown by means of the stand or otherwise.

It. will be seen from the foregoingthat while the invention is comparatively simple and inexpensive. it will po ss :1 number of advantageous characteristics. On account of the results obtainal'ile from the details disclosed. they are preferably followed. However. within the scope of the invention as claimed. numerous variations may be made.

I claim 1. A mechanism of the class described comprising a train-:u-tuated switch-throwing; member between the track rails and shiftable toward and from the same. a locking member for said switch-throwing member mounted for vertical movement and extending under the latter, yicldable means for normally sustaining said locking member in a raised position in which it engages and locks said switch-throwing member, and a train-depressed rail connected with said locking member to depress and release the latter, permitting the train to shift the switchthrowing member.

2. A i'i'iechanism oi? the class described con'nprising a 'traii'i-actitiated switch-throwing member between the track rails and shittable toward and from the same, a locking bar under said sWitch-throwing member extending transversely between the track rails, a frame under the rails having a transverse stationary bar under said locking bar, vertical guide pins projecting from one of said bars and slidably connected with the other bar, coiled con'ipression springs surrounding said pins to normally support said locking bar in a raised position in which it engages said switch-throwing member, and a train-do pressed rail connected with said. locking bar to depress and release the latter from the switch-throwing member peri'nitting the train to shift the latter.

3. in combination with a main track and a siding ii'iclnding the usual switii-h tongues; horizontally shiftable switch-throwing shoes between the rails of the main tra .:lc and siding in position to be engaged by train-carried means regardless of the direction oi travel on the main track or whether the train is entering or leaving the siding, a plurality of horizontally swingable levers disposed longitudinally between the rails and operatively connected with each other, certain of said levers carrying said shoes whereby movement of any shoe will cause similar n'iovemcnt oi the others, and means connectin one of said levers with the switch tongues whereby shitting of the levers by any of said shoes will move the switch tongues from one position to the other.

l. in combination with a main track and a siding including the usual switch tongues; horizontally shiftable switch-tlnowing shoes between the rails of the main track and siding in position to be engaged by train-carried means regardless of the direction of travel on the main track or whether the train is ordering or leaving the siding, a plurality of horizontally swingablc levers disposed longitudinally between the rails and operatively connected with each other, certain of said levers carrying said shoes whereby movement oi? any shoe will cause similar movement of the others, means connecting one of said levers with the switch tongues, whereby shitting of the levers by any oi said shoes will move the switch tongues from one position to the other; a plurality of vertically movable locking members normally raised into engagement with said shoes and locking them against movement, train-depressed means connected with said locking members for depressing them to released position, and a plurality of vertically swingable levers disposed longitudinally of the rails and connected with each other and with said locking members, whereby depression of any locking member will depress the other locking members through the instrun'ientality Ofli said ver tic-ally swingable levers.

5. A mechanism of the class described comprisinga plurality of train-actuated switch-throwing members, aplnrality of vertically movable locking members normally raised into engagement with said switchthrowing members and. locking them against movement, train-depressed means connected with said locking members for depressing them to released position, and a plurality of vertically swing-able levers disposed longitudinally of the rails and connected with each other andwith said locking members, whereby depression of any locking member will depress the other locking member through the instrumentality of said vertically swingable levers.

6. A mechanism of the class described comprising a train-actuated switch-throwing i'nen'iber, a movably mounted locking memher for said switch-throwing member, yieldable means for normally holding said lockmg member in operative position in which it engages said switch-throwing member, trainactuated means connected with said locking member for releasing the same, permitting the train to shiit the switch-throwing member, a hand lever operatively connected with said locking member for moving the same to released. position when desired, and means for holding said hand lever in the position which it occupies when said locking member is released, whereby to hold said locking member in its released position.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1'; together with a rock shaft operatively connected with said locking member for depressing the latter to released position when turned in one direction, a hand lever having a lostmotion connection with said rock shaft for turning it in said direction, and means for holding said hand lever in the position which it occupies when said locking member is released, whereby to hold said loching member in its released position. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature DLYNEY F. GRIFFEY. 

